A Violent Confrontation with the British
During the violent confrontation that lasted three hours, the soldiers fired their personal weapon into the crowd. As a result of the firing, the 16 year old immigrants, Isaac (Yitzhak) Rosenbaum, was killed and tens were injured.
The last week of the "Knesset Israel" voyage was used for fervent preparations towards the anticipated confrontation with the British. About 2000 people were divided into shifts that were lined up for a peripheral protection of the ship and exercised taking their positions. For self-defense purposes, they gathered clubs, bottles, pieces of steel wire, pressure hoses for water spraying and flame cans soaked with gas. Hamburger, the ship commander, sent telegrams to his superiors in 'Hamossad for Aliyah Bet', as well as to the Hagana and Palmach HQ (though it was uncustomary), reporting the extensive preparations. He urged them to prepare a simultaneous, appropriate response on the country's shores when "Knesset Israel" arrived there.
According to plan, "Knesset Israel" was scheduled to unload its immigrants on the Nahariya shore. On November 24th, a British reconnaissance aircraft spotted the ship. A British destroyer located the ship that same day at sea, and was later switched with three other destroyers. At first, the British tried to direct "Knesset Israel" directly to Cyprus, but during the negotiations, Hamburger made it clear to the fleet commander that the immigrants intended to put up a fight. The surrounded ship turned directly towards Haifa port, following the instructions from 'Hamossad for Aliyah Bet' HQ. As it entered the territorial waters, a small takeover crew of navy soldiers was allowed on board "Knesset Israel." They left the ship as soon as it reached Haifa port on November 26th. They were replaced by other soldiers, who began unloading the immigrants. They faced a firm resistance. A mass brawl ensued on board the ship. The soldiers, who carried clubs, attacked using teargas and scare shots for cover, the fire aimed above the immigrants' heads. The immigrants threw the prearranged objects towards them.
During the violent confrontation that lasted three hours, the soldiers fired their personal weapon into the crowd. As a result of the firing, the 16 year old immigrants, Isaac (Yitzhak) Rosenbaum, was killed and tens were injured. Some British soldiers were injured during the confrontation. The struggle was determined when teargas penetrated the storage rooms underneath the deck, where the women and children were crowded, and some of them jumped overboard to escape the burning of the gas.
The immigrants were transferred to the "Empire Rival," "Empire Haywood" and "Ocean Vigor" deportation ships. But their deportation to Cyprus was delayed three days dues to a plea that was served to the Superior Court on behalf of the immigrants by the Jewish Agency, to call off their deportation. The plea was not granted. With the publishing of the verdict, on November 29th, the deportation ships sailed to Cyprus. The immigrants were placed in detention camps No.61 and 62 in Femagusta. Yoash Zidon and Reuven Hirsch were transferred to Cyprus with the immigrants. Yosef Hamburger hid on board the ship and was later rescued.
The poet, Natan Alterman, dedicated his poem, "Division of Functions," to the resistance of "Knesset Israel" immigrants; it did not receive a response from the Yishuv (as Hamburger claimed) – to simultaneously and actively join the Haapala struggle. The poem was published in "Hatur Hashvi'i" of 'Davar' newspaper on 13.12.46.
According to plan, "Knesset Israel" was scheduled to unload its immigrants on the Nahariya shore. On November 24th, a British reconnaissance aircraft spotted the ship. A British destroyer located the ship that same day at sea, and was later switched with three other destroyers. At first, the British tried to direct "Knesset Israel" directly to Cyprus, but during the negotiations, Hamburger made it clear to the fleet commander that the immigrants intended to put up a fight. The surrounded ship turned directly towards Haifa port, following the instructions from 'Hamossad for Aliyah Bet' HQ. As it entered the territorial waters, a small takeover crew of navy soldiers was allowed on board "Knesset Israel." They left the ship as soon as it reached Haifa port on November 26th. They were replaced by other soldiers, who began unloading the immigrants. They faced a firm resistance. A mass brawl ensued on board the ship. The soldiers, who carried clubs, attacked using teargas and scare shots for cover, the fire aimed above the immigrants' heads. The immigrants threw the prearranged objects towards them.
During the violent confrontation that lasted three hours, the soldiers fired their personal weapon into the crowd. As a result of the firing, the 16 year old immigrants, Isaac (Yitzhak) Rosenbaum, was killed and tens were injured. Some British soldiers were injured during the confrontation. The struggle was determined when teargas penetrated the storage rooms underneath the deck, where the women and children were crowded, and some of them jumped overboard to escape the burning of the gas.
The immigrants were transferred to the "Empire Rival," "Empire Haywood" and "Ocean Vigor" deportation ships. But their deportation to Cyprus was delayed three days dues to a plea that was served to the Superior Court on behalf of the immigrants by the Jewish Agency, to call off their deportation. The plea was not granted. With the publishing of the verdict, on November 29th, the deportation ships sailed to Cyprus. The immigrants were placed in detention camps No.61 and 62 in Femagusta. Yoash Zidon and Reuven Hirsch were transferred to Cyprus with the immigrants. Yosef Hamburger hid on board the ship and was later rescued.
The poet, Natan Alterman, dedicated his poem, "Division of Functions," to the resistance of "Knesset Israel" immigrants; it did not receive a response from the Yishuv (as Hamburger claimed) – to simultaneously and actively join the Haapala struggle. The poem was published in "Hatur Hashvi'i" of 'Davar' newspaper on 13.12.46.